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On Friday, 29 January 2026, the inaugural evidence-based event of the Right to Food UK Commission was held in Knowsley, with Ian Byrne MP hosting the gathering. This commission brings together influential figures from across the United Kingdom with the goal of developing a data-driven roadmap for Right to Food legislation by autumn of the same year. The overarching aim is to eradicate hunger and the reliance on food banks nationwide.
The commission was formed through a partnership among the Right To Food Campaign, the University of Westminster, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), and the Food and Work Network. During the event, key stakeholders from Liverpool and Knowsley councils came together alongside representatives from sectors including health, education, academia, trade unions, and community organizations.
Throughout the day, panel discussions addressed several important aspects related to the Right to Food. Topics included exploring the Right to Food from a public health standpoint, led by Directors of Public Health from Liverpool and Knowsley with contributions from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the University of Liverpool. Another panel highlighted the importance of community kitchens, featuring input from a chef and community practitioner as well as representatives from Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool John Moores University, and a local general practitioner. Additional discussions focused on the relationship between welfare, wages, and hunger, with perspectives from Feeding Liverpool, the Royal College of Nursing Council, the Social Workers Union, and the PCS Union. Finally, there was a conversation concerning the role local authorities play in implementing a Right to Food and what such legislation might mean at the council level.
This session marks the first of multiple events planned around the UK leading up to May 2026, with outcomes and insights from these discussions set to be fed back to the Right to Food Commission. The Commission’s anticipated final report, outlining a roadmap to realizing the Right to Food, is scheduled for publication in September 2026. The commission is chaired by Barrie Margetts, Emeritus Professor at the University of Southampton, and includes representatives from trade unions, local government, health sectors, charities, and higher education institutions.
Reflecting on the event, Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, remarked, “It was great that Liverpool had the opportunity to provide evidence in the Right to Food summit and what that means for Liverpool. Whilst we have some wonderful initiatives locally such as the Queen of Greens mobile greengrocer, auto-enrolment for free school meals and Healthy Boost we still have a long way to go to reduce food insecurity.”
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